Jays lose their 16th consecutive series at Tampa Bay

The Blue Jays continue to struggle in Tampa Bay, and against the Rays wherever the teams meet.

A 3-2 loss Wednesday night assured the Jays of their 16th successive series loss when they visit the Rays. One of the series was at the Ballpark at Disney when the Rays played some home games there, and the other 15 were at Tropicana Field.

But the domination is not only at The Trop anymore. The Rays are now 8-2 against Toronto this season and have won eight of the past nine against the Blue Jays.

The Rays are 23-9 against the Jays since Sept. 1, 2010, and are 44-20 against them since June 29, 2009.

Since the beginning of the 2011 season, Tampa Bay pitching has a 2.64 ERA against Toronto, its lowest mark against any team.

That is why the Rays are 11-0-1 in their past 12 series against the Blue Jays, 20-1-1 in the past 22 series and 25-2-1 in their past 28 series.

The last time the Blue Jays won a series from the Rays was Aug. 6-8, 2010, when they swept three games at the Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays have been contenders only in their own minds this season. One of the reasons they remain pretenders is their struggles against the Rays.

Toronto reporters incessantly ask questions of management and players about the difficulty of competing in the American League East against the Yankees and the Red Sox. They never seem to mention the Rays.

If the Blue Jays as an organization also feel that way, it might be part of the problem. It is a big oversight considering the Rays have been to the postseason three times in the past four seasons.

The Blue Jays will try Thursday afternoon to salvage one win from the series.

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MLB Team Report - Toronto Blue Jays - NOTES, QUOTES

--RF Jose Bautista underwent an MRI exam Tuesday, but there was a problem with the procedure, and he went back for another test Wednesday on his injured left forearm and wrist area. Bautista hasn't played since suffering the injury during a swing on July 16 in New York. Manager John Farrell said that surgery had initially been considered as a possibility but that rest has been the recommended course of action. The Blue Jays feel that the issue is related to a tendon in area of the lower forearm.

"It was revealed in the (first) MRI that there wasn't a dislodging of the sheath in any way, the tendon still remained inside the sheath, so it was a matter of progression to tolerance," Farrell said. "That's exactly what's been done. He's swung the bat in a controlled setting yet to tolerance, and he still feels a little discomfort, so we haven't progressed past that."

--3B Brett Lawrie was out of the lineup for the fourth game in a row because of a sore rib cage. He threw a baseball Wednesday afternoon and said he felt better, but there has been no timetable put on his return to action. "I feel a lot better than I did before," Lawrie said. "I think throwing today is kind of giving me a little light at the end of the tunnel, knowing this thing is getting better as opposed to where it was. I'm just going out there, moving around, throwing and kind of letting it fly a little bit, actually felt pretty good."

--RHP Chad Jenkins made his major league debut Tuesday night to become the 31st pitcher used by the Blue Jays this season, a club record. Toronto's previous high was 30. Injuries have been one factor. "In certain cases, there are deadlines and contracts that you've got to take a look at a guy before he has the ability to request an out," manager John Farrell said. "I'm sure in some of those, those existed. We've had a lot of turnover because you bring a guy up in the short term, he gets used, and all of a sudden you're in an extended game, or a game where the bullpen has been used extensively, and then you've got to get another fresh arm in that situation." Jenkins pitched three scoreless innings Tuesday against the Rays.

--INF Adeiny Hechavarria had his first major league hit Tuesday, a single. He committed his first error in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Rays. He was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a hit by pitch and is 1-for-11 since being called up from Class AAA Las Vegas. He has filled in for 3B Brett Lawrie (ribs).

--RHP Carlos Villanueva, who started the season 6-0, including four wins as a starter, dropped his second decision in row Wednesday, allowing three runs in six innings as the Rays beat the Jays 3-2. It was an improvement over his other start against Tampa Bay at The Trop. He allowed a career-high eight runs in 2 2/3 innings last Aug. 3 in a 9-1 loss. He went on the disabled list after that start with a strained right forearm and came back in September in a relief role.

BY THE NUMBERS: 31 -- Pitchers used this season by the Blue Jays, a club record.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It has been a long time coming, that's for sure. As everybody has seen, there were a few times this year that I wasn't sure I was going to get it. I'll always remember this one." -- RHP Chad Jenkins, who made his major league debut in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay, pitching three scoreless innings. He had struggled earlier in the season with Class AA New Hampshire but began to pitch better and got the promotion.

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MLB Team Report - Toronto Blue Jays - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--3B Brett Lawrie (ribcage tightness) left the Aug. 3 game, and he didn't play Aug. 4-8. It's unclear when he'll be able to return.

--1B/DH Adam Lind (mid-back tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 26. An exam found no structural damage.

--C J.P. Arencibia (broken right hand) went on the 15-day disabled list July 26. He is expected to be out until early September.

--RHP Jason Frasor (right forearm tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 17. He was shut down from throwing until early August.

--RF Jose Bautista (left wrist inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list July 17. He began swinging a bat July 28. He underwent another MRI in early August, and there is no timetable for his return.

--RHP Robert Coello (right elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list June 30, as the Blue Jays rescinded his option to the minors. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 20.

--RHP Drew Hutchison (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list June 16, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 25. He will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Aug. 9.

--RHP Brandon Morrow (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list June 12, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 17. He threw on flat ground for the first time June 25. He threw his first bullpen session July 13. He made rehab starts for Class A Dunedin on July 29 and Aug. 3. He is expected to make two starts for Class AA New Hampshire before rejoining the Blue Jays.

--RHP Dustin McGowan (plantar fasciitis in right foot, right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26 due to the foot injury, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 25. His throwing program was shut down in late April due to the shoulder ailment, but he resumed throwing in Dunedin, Fla., in mid-May. He never made it into a game this season, and he will undergo exploratory shoulder surgery Aug. 9.

--RHP Jesse Litsch (right shoulder tendinitis, right shoulder infection) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 20. He learned May 22 that his infection was gone, but he had season-ending biceps tendon surgery in June.

--RHP Sergio Santos (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list April 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 24. He resumed throwing in mid-May, and he threw a 25-pitch bullpen session June 1. He threw his third bullpen session June 7 but then experienced a setback in late June. He underwent season-ending surgery July 24.

--LHP Luis Perez (torn left elbow ligament) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to July 9. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery July 17.

--RHP Kyle Drabek (sprained right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 14, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 22. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery June 19.